Portable exerciser



July 10, 1956 E. R. DAVIDSON PORTABLE EXERCISER Filed March 13, 1955 Snventor Gttomeg United States Patent r This invention relates. to anportable'exerciserandvhas as -.it object to provide -a new .and amusing combination ,ofwell-known parts for :the purpose of constructing a device which will exercise people, and particularly people who are over-weight, and more particularly people .who

are. over-weight at the waist-line; by. causing .such,;people to bend up :and down successively .in .thesoperation of .the device.

Again, the .new construction provided herein may he 'used.as.a toy for a child oras anamusemenkdevice for adults at.a party, fair or other social functiomor, :from

a .more serious point of view, :as an exerciser ifor-tthose hundreds -.of .people who are trying -to regain the use :of-their-limbs as an aftermath of an attack of the dreaded fpolio. disease.

Another. object :of this invention is .toprovide -.-an.-exerciser, having .-a :new combination of par-ts, which ;is exceedingly inexpensive to construct, which is without danger to the user and which will hold theattention of the-user .for. many days as he-attempts to build up skill in the-operation of the exerciser.

In 'theiaccompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of my exerciser, showing :an elongated body or stick in an inclined position :and :having -a curve :at

its lower extremity. A groove is--on stheaupperxfaeeoof the stick and -is'adapted to guide a ball down the-incline of the stick. By co-ordinated movementf thebody .and arm, the ball may be caught "in a pocket-at the top of the stick-andbe-made to move in a continuous cycle. (Fig. .2 is an enlarged-view of a trigger "mechanism :adapted to .hold or release the said ball fromethe :said

the stick-when-the said stick is held in'an inclined'posi- 'tion, thesaid means comprising preferably a groove 2 in the upper surface-of the said stick. Further is"'-shown the said stick curved at :its lower extremity *to=form a substantially semi-circle 3 having 'the said groove on the inside.

Furtheris shown-a curved handle -4at thetop'of'the said stick, and a hand H holding the stick, showing the entire exerciser to be portable.

Moreover is shown a pocket adapted to catch a ball, the said pocket 5 being secured by friction to the upper portion of the said stick and being adapted to slide to predetermined positions up and down the said stick and to be held at such predetermined positions by friction, as is shown at one position of the said pocket shown in dotted lines at 5A. The said pocket 5 is made preferably of tin-plate and in the form of a hollow cone having 2,754,123 tPatented .July 1.0, 1956 through xthe said 'stick -1, tand a lcnot MA :in :the, cord secures the-cord from pulling-out-of the stick. The cord is :of sufiicient length vtoallow the ball to roll :to the .-.bottom of the 1 stick and -to rise above the uppermost position of thefipocket.

Further insFig. l is shown a combination ball-stop zand rtriggersfiaadapted to be moved'by ia fingersfrom-a -stqpping position as shown,- to a non-stopping position as. shown Iin rdotted lines in Fig. .2.

Big. 2-is.an?enlarged side view of thecombinationballstop rand ttriggeneandnin which -Vl.6W-?lS" Sl1OWl1-ith6 stick 1, .thergroovel -.and ithe .ball -9 in the groove. Moreover is shown .the-ttriggerrandball-stop .8 in position to. stop .the ball 9- fromrunning down zthet-incline of :thestick. Again-is shown a pin =8A tupon which :the combination ball-stopand trigger :turn' to thermon-stop position. vA slot. 1A'in-the-..bottom side ofithe stick isadapted to re- :ceive the..ball-stop and trigger combination -at...the 'full .non stop .position.

vFig. 8 is :at-front view \of :the ball-stop and trigger combination; andsin which viewdsshown .the. stick-'1, .a slot-1A in the bottom of the stick radapted to-receive the ball-stop and. trigger combination :S andrthe :pin 8A upon which the latter turns.

Higu-4ais ta plan *view :of the stick in the inclined posi- ..tion;-and in which figure is shown thestick :1, the groove -.2,.the:curve-3.at the bottomiof the stickzand the handle 4.

Fig. Sis Kanenlargedsectional view on ahorizontal dine at the top :ofzthe pocket; and inswhichfigure -is-.-shown .thesticklnand the groove 2, and is shown-the pocket '5-made preferably ofone piece'\oftin-plate-and .con- .forminglinratfriction ,fit around .the-bac-kof the said stick, the said friction fitof the=pocket beingtadapted :to allow the pocket to slide .up -and.down:-.the ilfik find t0 remain .at .'any-,predetermined position .on the'tstick. -Again is shown the rubber ball 9 secured to-the stick by means of..an..-elastic--cord 10. .A hole- 1-B :in :the backzof the .stickds adapted topass the free encl of the elastic cord, tandeasknot 10A :inthe cord prevents the .cord :from pulling out of the stick. Now againdsshown ,awslit 5513 in the front of the pocket, the said slit beingadapted .to.pass.=the,elastic cord-whenthe ball-rollsidown through .thepocket.

Referringnow -to.;Fi g. l, my. exerciser, -is ta'daptedt-to .use .eithema freetballuor an attached/ball. "1 hus,';my portablesexerciser.isgraspedat ,the handle 4 by the hand .of .the -.user-.H.and .held in:an ,inclined position .as-shown, the bottom of. the exerciser-being .free labove theufloorilineE-IF. Boththe free ball and ,theattached ballsmay be made to pass through the same cycles inrtheiexerciser, 'with the difference being that "the attached ball requires more skill to maneuver due to the retracting force of the elastic cord.

In the elementary phase of the movement of the exer ciser, the free ball is first placed in the pocket at the low position SA on the stick. The ball is allowed to pass through this pocket with a slight retarding action at the bottom of the said cone-shaped pocket. The ball now rolls to the bottom of the stick and is returned upward by the curve 3. At this point, an additional force must be imparted to the ball by a backward movement of the trunk, waist and arm of the user in order to lift the ball up to and higher than the pocket 5A. The trunk, Waist and arm of the user must now be brought forward in a co-ordinated movement to catch and engage the ball in the said pocket. Thus the ball is made to move in a continuous cycle as shown by the dotted line and balls 7C7B. This cycle of the ball is not accomplished easily, and requires effort and co-ordination of the movements of the body of the user.

As skill is acquired, the pocket 5A is moved higher up on the stick with subsequent enlargement of the cycle of the ball and greater effort on the part of the user. The maximum cycle of the free ball reaching the course is indicated by the dotted line and balls 7-7A7B7D.

- In employing my exerciser with the attached ball using the elastic cord, a higher degree of skill is required and greater effort in flexing the body is required in order to meet the retracting force of the elastic cord. Thus, referring again to Fig. 1, a brake in the form of a simple ball-stop and trigger combination is needed and is shown at 8. Obviously the combination ball-stop and trigger may be used with both the free ball and the attached ball.

1a employing the attached ball, the ball is first placed in the pocket at the low position 5A and allowed to run down the stick; the elastic cord passing through the slit 'in the front of the pocket.

This low position of the pocket allows some judgement of the retracting force of the elastic cord. The pocket is raised step by step until it reaches a high position as indicated at 5. At this position the ball must be braked by the combination ballstop and trigger 8 as the ball builds up speed in traveling the cycle 7A7B7D-9, or larger cycles (not shown).

I have found in using my exerciser that the elastic cord does not become tangled with the ball, as the ball presents an all-rounded surface which evades the cord. Again, I have found that the cord passes easily through the slit in front of the pocket, and usually immediately after the ball passes through the pocket.

My exerciser weighs about one pound and requires little or no effort to hold. Again, I have found that my exerciser fascinates and holds the attention of the user for weeks and weeks, and that its use by an ordinarily well person for a period of ten to fifteen minutes each day results in a feeling of physical well-being.

I have found that my exerciser is inexpensive to make, is quite strong and will stand considerable usage; moreover, in the event of breakage, a replacement part is quite inexpensive and very easy to assemble.

I am aware that certain devices having a rubber ball and a securing elastic cord have been known for a long time; Iam not concerned with these.

I am aware that certain devices employing the principle of an inclined plane and a moving body thereon have been known for a long time; I am therefore not concerned with these.

I claim:

1. A portable exerciser comprising an elongated body member having a straight track along which a ball is adapted to roll freely, a handle extending laterally at an obtuse angle from the upper end of said body member, a curved end member extending from the lower end of said body member and curving upwardly therefrom at the side opposite the handle, said end member having at its inner face a curved extension of said track, a ball secured to said body member by a cord, and a pocket open at the top and bottom frictionally engaging said body member and adjustable in position from one end of said body member to the other to receive said ball through its upper end and guide it onto said track, said pocket having a slot suificiently wide to pass said cord extending from end to end of the wall of said pocket opposite said track.

2. A portable exerciser comprising an elongated body member having a straight track along which a ball is adapted to roll freely, a handle extending laterally at an obtuse angle from the upper end thereof, a curved end member extending from the lower end of said body member and curving upwardly therefrom at the side opposite the handle, said end member having at its inner face an extension of said track curving through approximately 180, a ball secured to said body member by an elastic cord, a pocket open at top and bottom to receive said ball and guide it onto said track, said pocket having a slot sufilciently wide to pass said cord extending from end to end of the wall of said pocket opposite said track, and means for releasably clamping said pocket to said body member adjacent said track.

3. A portable exerciser comprising a J-shaped guide member having along its inner face a track along which a ball is adapted to roll freely, a handle extending iaterally from the end of the longer leg of the guide member at the side opposite the shorter leg, a pocket open at both ends and tapering in diameter from the upper end toward the lower end and adapted to receive said ball through its upper end and guide it onto said track through its lower end, means for releasably clamping said pocket to the longer leg of said guide member adjacent said track, said pocket and clamping means comprising a member of flexible sheet material frictionaily engaging said guide member at opposing sides thereof laterally of.

said track and extending arcuately across said track in spaced relation thereto.

4. A portable exerciser comprising a J-shaped guide member having along its inner face a track along which a ball is adapted to roll freely, a handle extending laterally from the end of the longer leg of the guide member at the side opposite the shorter leg, a pocket open at both ends and tapering in diameter from the upper end toward the lower end and adapted to receive said ball through its upper end and guide it onto said track through its lower end, means for releasably clamping said pocket to the longer leg of said guide member adjacent said track, said pocket and clamping means comprising a single piece of flexible sheet material having a rear wall slidably engaging the face of said guide member opposite the track and a pair of arms extending from opposite ends of said rear wall in frictional engagement with opposite sides of said guide member, said arms having arcuate end portions terminating adjacent each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 430,155 Taylor June 17, 1890 682,965 Taylor Sept. 17, 1901 964,473 Kane July 12, 1910 1,022,186 Engler Apr. 2, 1912 1,582,811 Adler Apr. 27, 1926 2,227,705 Colucci Jan. 7, 1941 2,510,403 Krupp June 6, 1950 2,570,860 Redding Oct. 9, 1951 

